BrainPOP Educators » GBLhttp://educators.brainpop.com
Free Tips, Tools, & Resources for EducatorsFri, 31 Jul 2015 15:33:41 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1.6The Incubator School Explores Game-Based Learninghttp://educators.brainpop.com/video/incubator-school-explores-game-based-learning/
http://educators.brainpop.com/video/incubator-school-explores-game-based-learning/#commentsWed, 04 Mar 2015 21:04:18 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=video&p=118743At the Incubator School, a new school in the LA Unified School District, teachers experience a series of collaborative, game-based learning modules that prepare them to empathize with their peers and students, and to build enduring instructional tools and approaches, based on the power of imaginative play. In this video, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center interviewed the founder, Sujata Bhatt, along with the school’s teachers as they follow them through week 1 of the Incubator School’s Summer Institute PD Program.

At the Incubator School, a new school in the LA Unified School District, teachers experience a series of collaborative, game-based learning modules that prepare them to empathize with their peers and students, and to build enduring instructional tools and approaches, based on the power of imaginative play.

In this video, the Joan Ganz Cooney Center interviewed the founder, Sujata Bhatt, along with the school’s teachers as they follow them through week 1 of the Incubator School’s Summer Institute PD Program.

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/video/incubator-school-explores-game-based-learning/feed/0Join Us for a Game-Based Learning Meetup!http://educators.brainpop.com/2015/01/28/join-us-game-based-learning-meetup/
http://educators.brainpop.com/2015/01/28/join-us-game-based-learning-meetup/#commentsWed, 28 Jan 2015 17:28:36 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?p=117864NYC Teachers, Come Design With Us! On Saturday, February 7, BrainPOP and the Game-Based Learning NYC (GBLNYC) Meetup will be hosting our fourth Game Design Workshop, and if you’re around, we’d love to see you and your ideas! There are a few spots left in this one, so if you’re interested: RSVP at Meetup.com The workshop will be set up like a Game Jam – we’ll briefly discuss stages of game design and the special opportunities and challenges of the classroom before jumping right into designing games ourselves. We’ll break into groups, choose educational goals, and design paper, physical, or digital games. Much of the time will focus on playtesting the concepts before sharing them with the workshop. Our last few have been great. We’ve seen race-around-the-room games, nuanced social dynamics, augmented reality app concepts, and lots of higher-order thinking skills.

On Saturday, February 7, BrainPOP and the Game-Based Learning NYC (GBLNYC) Meetup will be hosting our fourth Game Design Workshop, and if you’re around, we’d love to see you and your ideas! There are a few spots left in this one, so if you’re interested:

The workshop will be set up like a Game Jam – we’ll briefly discuss stages of game design and the special opportunities and challenges of the classroom before jumping right into designing games ourselves. We’ll break into groups, choose educational goals, and design paper, physical, or digital games. Much of the time will focus on playtesting the concepts before sharing them with the workshop.

Our last few have been great. We’ve seen race-around-the-room games, nuanced social dynamics, augmented reality app concepts, and lots of higher-order thinking skills.

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/2015/01/28/join-us-game-based-learning-meetup/feed/2Using Games in the Classroomhttp://educators.brainpop.com/printable/using-games-classroom/
http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/using-games-classroom/#commentsWed, 03 Dec 2014 19:44:11 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=printable&p=117051Using games in the classroom can help immerse kids into deeper learning. This blog post by Katrina Schwartz explores the barriers teachers confront. . .

Katrina Schwartz’s blog post for MindShift on November 24, 2014 entitled, “Some Struggles Teachers Face Using Games in the Classroom” brings to light the many barriers to implementing game-based learning. She also highlights how teachers are creatively using games to push students to think critically. A few of the games mentioned in this post can be found right here on GameUp where you’ll also find supplemental materials that help support the games use inside the classroom and indicates how the game aligns to CCSS.

The post describes how teachers are using digital games to bring concrete experiences of abstract ideas to students through virtual gameplay experiences like some of those you can find on GameUp like LawCraft, Court Quest, Quandary or Supreme Decision. It is through games like these that “…allow kids to interact in an almost concrete way that is very powerful. They take on the role of the characters and understand it in a much deeper way than they would otherwise.”

We’d like to encourage you to share with us ways that you are using games in the classroom.

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/using-games-classroom/feed/0Serious Games into the K-16 Classroom with Victoria Van Voorhishttp://educators.brainpop.com/video/serious-games-k-16-classroom-victoria-van-voorhis/
http://educators.brainpop.com/video/serious-games-k-16-classroom-victoria-van-voorhis/#commentsWed, 19 Nov 2014 16:27:40 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=video&p=116811In this video talk with Victoria Van Voorhis of Rochester discusses the challenges in taking serious games and interactive media from the margins to the mainstream across the K-16 spectrum. Her essential question is why, given the efficacy data that we have about serious games, aren’t they being integrated into the educational experience of today’s students? Drawing on her years as a classroom educator, a leader in creating new media for integration into school curricula, and a business strategist she will offer a unique and multi-faceted perspective.

In this video talk with Victoria Van Voorhis of Rochester discusses the challenges in taking serious games and interactive media from the margins to the mainstream across the K-16 spectrum. Her essential question is why, given the efficacy data that we have about serious games, aren’t they being integrated into the educational experience of today’s students? Drawing on her years as a classroom educator, a leader in creating new media for integration into school curricula, and a business strategist she will offer a unique and multi-faceted perspective.

Download a Desalination game brochure, which provides a pre-assessment quiz, science experiment, and background information on the deslanation process, offered by the Desalination game developer, STEM Sims.

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/desalination-game-brochure/feed/0After the Storm: Pre- & Post-Game Discussion Questionshttp://educators.brainpop.com/printable/storm-pre-post-game-discussion-questions/
http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/storm-pre-post-game-discussion-questions/#commentsFri, 19 Sep 2014 12:00:14 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=printable&p=92228These game discussion prompts for After the Storm: Day One will help you support student learning before and after game play.

These game discussion questions for After the Storm: Day One will help you support student learning before and after game play. The pre-game discussion prompts introduce thematic concepts in the game, and the post-game prompts help students reflect on their experience.

Learn more about After the Storm! Visit publisher Classroom, Inc. and get access to the full experience, featuring 20 hours of gameplay, teacher resources and materials.

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/storm-pre-post-game-discussion-questions/feed/0After the Storm Literacy Game: Preparing for Game Playhttp://educators.brainpop.com/printable/storm-preparing-game-play/
http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/storm-preparing-game-play/#commentsThu, 18 Sep 2014 14:36:40 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=printable&p=92230You can prepare your students for getting the most out of the literacy game After the Storm: Day One by using these great resources. . .

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/storm-preparing-game-play/feed/0Institute of Play Design Pack: Game-like Learning Curriculumhttp://educators.brainpop.com/printable/institute-play-design-pack-game-like-learning/
http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/institute-play-design-pack-game-like-learning/#commentsWed, 02 Jul 2014 23:23:20 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=printable&p=48229“What if every unit in your class felt like a level in a game? What if your students were so engaged, they couldn’t wait to show off what they know and get to the next level? What if learning, collaboration, feedback and reflection happened naturally? From the experts in game-like learning at Quest Schools, this design pack offers you tools and resources to begin the adventure of designing your own game-like curriculum.” – Institute of Play This design pack is designed for middle and high school, but adventurous elementary school teachers are invited to dive in! And, we couldn’t agree more! This is a fantastic resource for novice teachers, veterans or those just wanting to explore what all the buzz is about regarding game-based learning curriculum design.

“What if every unit in your class felt like a level in a game? What if your students were so engaged, they couldn’t wait to show off what they know and get to the next level? What if learning, collaboration, feedback and reflection happened naturally? From the experts in game-like learning at Quest Schools, this design pack offers you tools and resources to begin the adventure of designing your own game-like curriculum.” – Institute of Play

This design pack is designed for middle and high school, but adventurous elementary school teachers are invited to dive in! And, we couldn’t agree more! This is a fantastic resource for novice teachers, veterans or those just wanting to explore what all the buzz is about regarding game-based learning curriculum design.

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/institute-play-design-pack-game-like-learning/feed/0Institute of Play Design Pack: Systems Thinkinghttp://educators.brainpop.com/printable/institute-play-design-pack-systems-thinking/
http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/institute-play-design-pack-systems-thinking/#commentsWed, 02 Jul 2014 22:50:14 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=printable&p=48221Teachers at Quest to Learn schools and staff at Institute of Play use the tools in this Systems Thinking Design Pack to support teachers and students in building knowledge and skills in systems thinking. They invite you to explore and playtest these tools in your own teaching and learning. To understand why systems thinking is an essential 21st century skill, it is important to learn more about what it is and how to use it. The design pack includes a basic introduction and throughly describes system thinking mechanics and provides guidance on integrating systems thinking into schools. We love this resource and think you will too!

Teachers at Quest to Learn schools and staff at Institute of Play use the tools in this Systems Thinking Design Pack to support teachers and students in building knowledge and skills in systems thinking. They invite you to explore and playtest these tools in your own teaching and learning.

To understand why systems thinking is an essential 21st century skill, it is important to learn more about what it is and how to use it. The design pack includes a basic introduction and throughly describes system thinking mechanics and provides guidance on integrating systems thinking into schools. We love this resource and think you will too!

]]>http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/institute-play-design-pack-systems-thinking/feed/0Institute of Play Design Pack: Games and Learninghttp://educators.brainpop.com/printable/iop-design-pack-games-and-learning/
http://educators.brainpop.com/printable/iop-design-pack-games-and-learning/#commentsWed, 02 Jul 2014 21:50:11 +0000http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/?post_type=printable&p=48219“What if teachers could harness their creativity and knowledge to engage students in new and exciting ways? What if teachers supported each other in becoming designers of their own games for learning? From the experts in game-like learning at Quest Schools, this design pack will immerse you in learning about Quest’s game design tools and exciting collaborative curriculum team model.” We feel this design toolkit by the Institute of Play is an amazing resource for educators exploring game-based learning. In it you will discover why games and game design are powerful ways to engage, motivate and inspire students to learn. This is a rich offering with detailed guidance through several phases to facilitate taking a deeper dive into implementing games and learning in the classroom.

“What if teachers could harness their creativity and knowledge to engage students in new and exciting ways? What if teachers supported each other in becoming designers of their own games for learning? From the experts in game-like learning at Quest Schools, this design pack will immerse you in learning about Quest’s game design tools and exciting collaborative curriculum team model.”

We feel this design toolkit by the Institute of Play is an amazing resource for educators exploring game-based learning. In it you will discover why games and game design are powerful ways to engage, motivate and inspire students to learn. This is a rich offering with detailed guidance through several phases to facilitate taking a deeper dive into implementing games and learning in the classroom.